Legal News

Stories about physicians and other healthcare professionals involved in lawsuits—as either a plaintiff or a defendant—or accused of breaking the law. Various legal updates or unusual stories in the news may land here.

Radiologist reprimanded after writing hundreds of problematic prescriptions
The doctor is accused of doling out dozens drugs such as opioids to herself, friends, family and other acquaintances between 2014 and 2024.
High-level briefing: Sex change-backer wins $2M verdict | Must-knows for healthcare CEOs | Life expectancy up | Vociferous nurses revisited
A malpractice lawsuit filed by a gender detransitioner ended Jan. 30 with a victory for the aggrieved former patient. The decision may set a generalizable precedent since this was the first such suit to reach a courtroom—and since 30 or so others are en route.
Lawsuits filed over allegations of dirty surgical tools, patient infections and defamation
A surgeon and a medical device representative accuse Portneuf Medical Center of failing to address an ongoing problem with contaminated surgical tools that left patients with serious infections.
Legal eagles forecast 3 healthcare AI trends to eyeball in 2026 and beyond
Heated tension between state and federal AI regulators is coming, predict two attorneys subspecialized in AI startup success, data privacy and cybersecurity.
Georgia jury sides with radiologist in negligence case
The rad was accused of writing a “confusing” report that allegedly had long-lasting implications for the plaintiff's child, who was born with severe birth defects.

noncompete contract clause employment pen sign

Federal judge issues partial halt to FTC ban on noncompetes

A full court hearing to determine the fate of the FTC ban on noncompete clauses will be scheduled before Aug 31. For now, a judge has issued a preliminary injunction.

Change Healthcare notifies patients their medical records may have been taken in breach

A HIPAA notification posted to the company’s website said details about patients’ diagnoses and treatments may have been stolen by hackers.

Baylor, others paying $15M over DOJ allegations they ‘gambled’ with heart patient health

According to a whistleblower, multiple Texas healthcare providers put complex heart surgeries in the hands of unqualified trainees without proper supervision. The $15M being recovered is the largest amount ever for a case of this kind.

Optum settles improper opioid prescription accusations for $20M

The UnitedHealth Group subsidiary has not admitted any wrongdoing but said it has improved protocols for monitoring controlled substances.

Former Microsoft employee arrested for stealing 1.2M patient records

A former employee at Nuance Communications, a Microsoft subsidiary, stands accused of taking patient data from Geisinger Health system shortly after their termination.

Steward Health Care deployed spy outfits to thwart critics

The failing health system allegedly hired intelligence firms that put a tracking device on a car, accessed a personal smartphone to find lurid information on an executive and attempted to frame a politician for bribery.

DOJ arrests 193 during nationwide crackdown on $2.75B in healthcare scams

The arrests include doctors, nurses and other licensed medical professionals accused of various schemes to defraud patients, insurers and Medicare.

Federal judge strikes down HHS ban on tracking cookies

Providers argued the HHS overstepped its regulatory authority. A federal court in Texas agreed.

Legal News

Radiologist reprimanded after writing hundreds of problematic prescriptions

High-level briefing: Sex change-backer wins $2M verdict | Must-knows for healthcare CEOs | Life expectancy up | Vociferous nurses revisited

Lawsuits filed over allegations of dirty surgical tools, patient infections and defamation

Legal eagles forecast 3 healthcare AI trends to eyeball in 2026 and beyond

Georgia jury sides with radiologist in negligence case